Photo: View of East Down Yacht Club and Ringdufferin (immediate locality,
Strangford
View Mews). Large Island
to the right was the location for the film December Bride .

Stabling & Horse Riding Tuition at Strangford View MewsStabling is available on site and tutition can be arranged by International 3 day event rider Joseph Murphy, who is based onsite.

Ringdufferin is on a designated cycle route. The miles of quiet country roads and lanes make it ideal for both family and profesional cyclists. These roads are rich in wildlife and stunning scenery and views which extend to the Mourne Mountains and beyond.

Strangford Lough www.strangfordlough.co.ukCut off by from the sea by the Ards Peninsula, except for a 1km wide strait at Portaferry, Strangford Lough is almost a lake. It is 25km long, about 6km wide and up to 45m deep. Large colonies of grey seal live here, especially at the southern tip of the peninsula. Birds abound on the shores and mudflats including Brent geese and eider ducks.

Delamount Park www.delamontcountrypark.com
Situated on the shores of the stunning Strangford Lough, amidst rolling countryside, Delamont offers you the chance to 'get away from it all' in tranquil, rural surroundings. The park's relaxing atmosphere makes it a place to dream and settle into the slow rhythm of the countryside...

Castle Espie Centre www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/castle-espie/A haven for fledgling ornithologists and for a large gathering of geese, ducks and swans. Many of the birds are so tame they will take food form your hand. The best time to visit is between May and June, when the grounds are overrun with goslings, ducklings and cygnets.

National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Some of the Trust's finest properties lie around the shores of Strangford Lough.
The small inlet, 5 mins walk from the cottages, is under their protection and is
a Wild Life Sanctuary. The west side is accessible except at high tide.
Please remember these are protected areas and the Trust's guidelines must be followed.

Exploris Aquarium www.exploris.org.ukThe Northern Ireland Aquarium was opened in 1987 to enable the public to view the amazingly diverse marine life that exists around these islands. The conservation village of Portaferry was the ideal location. It is sited on the shores of the Marine Nature reserve of Strangford Lough which contains nearly three quarters of all the marine species to be found in Northern Irish waters.

Down County Museum www.downcountymuseum.com
This former gaol and military barracks where famous United Irishman Thomas Russel (The Man from God Knows Where) was hanged in 1803, now houses the St Patrick Heritage Centre, telling the story of Ireland's Patron Saint and the area's strong links to the founding of Christianity in Ireland.

Tollymore Forst Park
The 500-hectare park is almost 2 miles north-east of Newcastle. It has lengthy walks along the Shimna River and the northern Mournes. The visitor centre is in a 19th century church-like barn that has information on the flora, fauna and history of the park. Guided walks are available.

Mourne MountainsA granite mountain range in County Down in the south-east of Northern Ireland. It includes the highest mountains in Northern Ireland and the province of Ulster. The highest of these is Slieve Donard at 850 metres (2,790 ft). The Mournes is an area of outstanding natural beauty and has been proposed as the first national park in Northern Ireland. The area is partly owned by the National Trust and sees a large number of visitors every year.